The Interfacial Interactions in Polymeric Composites [Paperback]

Polymer composites represent materials of great and of continuously growing importance. Their potential for application appears to be limitless. They have been the subject of numerous studies both at academic and industrial levels. Much progress has been made in the incisive formulation of composites; sophisticated methods of property evaluation have been developed in the past decade and many, largely empirical solutions have been proposed to resolve the problem of their long-term performance under typical conditions of use (i. e. the use of silane or titane coupling agents to enhance adhesion within composite materials). Assuredly one of the most essential factors in the performance of these systems is the condition of the interface and interphase among the constituents of a given system. It has become clear that it is the interface/interphase, and the interactions which take place in this part of a system, which determine to a significant degree the initial properties of the material. In order to achieve leadership in the formulation and application of polymer composites, it is evident that in depth understanding of interfacial and interphase phenomena becomes a prerequisite.1. Interfaces, Interphases and Adhesion: A Perspective.- 2. Aspects of Component Interactions in Polymer Systems.- 3. Rheology at Interfaces.- 4. Interactions and Properties of Composites.- (1) Fibre-Matrix Adhesion Measurements.- (2) Adhesion Composite Properties Relationships.- 5. The Role of Interface at the Wall in Flow of Concentrated Composites.- 6. Application of Surface Analysis to High Performance Polymeric Adhesives and Composites.- 7. Some Experimental Methods of Characterizing Surfaces.- 8. Controlled Interphases in Glass Fiber and Particulate Reinforced Polymers: Structure of Silane Coupling Agents in Solutions and on Substrates.- 9. Control and Modification of Surfaces and Interfaces by Corona and Low Pressure Plasma.- 10. Plasmas and Surfaces - A Practical Approach to Good Coml3&